Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026
09:29
Early Viral Entry Assays for the Identification and Evaluation of Antiviral Compounds
Published on: October 29, 2015
Developments towards antiviral therapies against enterovirus 71
Kan X Wu1, Mary M-L Ng, Justin J H Chu
1Department of Microbiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, 5 Science Drive 2, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
Drug Discovery Today
|October 27, 2010
Summary
Enterovirus 71 (EV71) causes severe neurological disease. This review highlights promising antiviral candidates, including small molecules and nucleic acid-based strategies, for clinical development against EV71 infections.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neuroscience
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a significant neurotropic virus responsible for outbreaks of acute flaccid paralysis and encephalitis.
- EV71 infections can lead to severe outcomes, including cardiopulmonary failure and death, necessitating urgent therapeutic interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and highlight antiviral candidates for Enterovirus 71 (EV71) with potential for clinical development.
- To categorize these candidates based on their proposed mechanisms of action.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of antiviral strategies against EV71.
- Analysis of diverse therapeutic approaches, including small molecules and nucleic acid-based methods.
- Evaluation of candidates based on their putative modes of action for clinical potential.
Main Results:
- Multiple antiviral strategies are under investigation for EV71.
- Candidates include small molecules derived from chemical design and library screening.
- Nucleic acid-based strategies and compounds developed for related viruses (poliovirus, rhinoviruses) are also explored.
Conclusions:
- A range of antiviral candidates show promise for treating EV71 infections.
- Further clinical development is warranted for selected candidates based on their mechanisms.
- Addressing the lack of approved therapies for EV71 is a critical research priority.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Respiratory Syncytial Virus Disease
Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a widespread pathogen that primarily targets infants and young children but also poses a serious health risk to elderly and immunocompromised individuals. Belonging to the Pneumoviridae family, RSV is a negative-sense, single-stranded RNA virus within the Pneumovirus genus. Its global health burden is significant, with millions of cases annually resulting in hospitalizations and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings. Although most...
01:22Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors
Antiviral Nucleoside InhibitorsAntiviral nucleoside inhibitors are structural analogs of natural nucleosides that interfere with viral DNA or RNA synthesis. These compounds selectively target viral polymerases due to their resemblance to host nucleosides, thereby disrupting viral genome replication.Mechanism of Acyclovir ActionAcyclovir is a guanosine analog with a three-carbon acyclic side chain. It selectively targets herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...
01:17Poliomyelitis
Poliomyelitis is caused by poliovirus, a small, non-enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family and Enterovirus genus. Transmission occurs primarily via the fecal-oral route, often through ingestion of contaminated water or food. The virus initially replicates in the oropharynx and intestinal mucosa, particularly in lymphoid tissues such as the tonsils, Peyer’s patches, and regional lymph nodes. Primary viremia follows, allowing dissemination throughout the body.In most...
01:25Inhibitors Of Virion Release
Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...
01:19Inhibitors of Virion Maturation and Assembly
As part of their replication cycle, certain viruses synthesize long precursor proteins called polyproteins within infected host cells. In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two major polyproteins are produced: Gag and Gag-Pol. The Gag polyprotein supplies the structural components of the virus, while Gag-Pol includes essential viral enzymes such as reverse transcriptase, integrase, and protease. After synthesis, these polyproteins move to the host cell membrane, where they assemble into an...